Chapter 18 The Lovely Ladies At His Headoffice

The plantation's accounts were done in his head office in Kuantan.Alex had to report to the Boss almost every week.Well he had wanted to put his progress in the plantation be in writing or in reports but the Boss stopped him from that.By stopping him in producing reports the Boss only wanted face to face reports on the spot at his office.

That made Alex job very simple,that saved plenty of papers and filing jobs.All he had to do was only to keep a private record on his own diary and each time before facing the Boss have all the necessary reports listed out properly.Each visit he made his briefed the Boss with a long list of works and events to allow the Boss to scrutinize and questioned him wherever the Boss though fit.

His well prepared list made the Boss listened with much interest and patient.With that every thing he requested was always met with approvals.That became his hall mark which was appreciated by the Boss and was rewarded with good increments and bonuses every year end.Never had the Boss rewarded anyone that way.He was the first and last.

The office staffs there were all females.They were saying he was unsystematic at the initial stages were now full of praises for him but who dared to be different from the Boss.The plantation's account was done by a clerk and she had a room to herself with all the plantation account within and Alex had also to see her to tell her the various accounts and to verify certain doubts she might had.

It was definitely different from all the other plantations where their accounts were done on those plantations.Well the Boss wanted it that way and there was nothing Alex could do to rectify them.Only thing here was that the Manager had always to traveled down to this office to laise with the clerk.By such the Boss though no hanky panky can be done.Can not be done?Not with Alex's experienced,with him everything were possible.It all depended on the Manager concerned.Should he be greedy it was possible but with Alex's honesty- no way.

The clerk was a female sprinter aged thirty plus.Not that well paid for the work she does.She was slightly on the fat side,charming but not attractive sufficiently.Kind heart sort of and always had to consult with Alex regarding the plantation's account.The other smaller plantations were under another female clerk,a Miss Helen Goh,with age similar to Alex with her just few days older.She was just another old girl,unmarried not that she was not pretty but a bit on the shy side.

Alex also had to be in touch with her regarding the accounts of Tavy Estate,Gambang.Of course she had also other duties in the Boss other businesses.A lovely old maid who wanted to talk all the time.Well she was petite and charming that aroused Alex to take her out for lunch and at times dinner.For all Alex heard this old maid was pretty well to do ,having houses for rental etc.etc.,despite of which she still continued working as a clerk.

Semanbu Estate's account was under Miss Look,married woman aged thirty plus at that time.Very stunningly charming and attractive looking,soft spoken and very corperative in her work.She too had room to herself as she looked after many accounts of the Boss other assets.Here she had to consult with Alex on Semanbu Estate.

Seated in front of the office would be the Boss Secretary,and it her everyone must see before appointment with the Boss.She was charming and soft spoken.She was actually the watch out for the Boss but she was kind so not so troublesome.Aged thirty plus and married.There were another two or three lovely women who were supposed to be auditing the Boss's many accounts.As Alex had no contact with them so not much was known about them.

In a Company like this Alex had to keep an open mind and maintained very good relationship with all of them.A said before these were the ladies who criticized Alex of being unsystematic but changed its course after three months when the Boss begin to have confidence and praise Alex.
All through their good relationship was maintained in order to know what was happening around the head office.

The head office was initially at the old shop lots but later transferred to a new office block.
The above descriptions were from the office blocks.Alex had to visit the head office very often,with most of his time after visiting the two smaller plantation usually in the afternoon.Normally he will be at the main plantation in Sri Jaya.and he went to the other plantation in the morning only if there were problems.It was quite a rush up and down.

Only after visiting plantations and the head office that he went around purchasing spares for its many old Ford tractors and others.By the time he reached home at the plantation at Sri Jaya it will be almost ten in the evening.It surely was a long,long day.He had no grumbles over the long hours work as long as the Boss understood his duties.Of course there were many who dispiced him for the way he worked but he never bothered with them as long as those were never the Boss's.What the Boss think was the difference.

His relationship with the Mill was always cordial but as time went by the Mill dared not cheelenged him on any subjects as he could deal and explained to the Boss directly.There was along list of engineers he had to deal with.

The first Engineer was a young and brilliant engineer.The Bosses admired his talents and witty talks.Alex knew otherwise he was smart with his words different from Alex's direct and sincere approach.Many seeing him for the first time will surely think he was very smart.But was he?In any case with his smooth talking he had the"Dato" blessing but the Boss only liked the way he conversed,very convincing.That was why when they compared him with Alex had no smooth talking to convince others nor had he a tertiary education,only years of experienced as a planter.

Initially he was on the hunt for all Alex 's blunders in his crop sent to the Mill.Of course Alex had no answer in the beginning and had to think deeper.Actions speak better than words,so instead of arguing about his crop he blankly accepted his faults and reprimanded his staffs and contractors.That turn about made the Boss very happy but not his staffs and contractors.But by his actions the Engineer could not do anythings more,now he knew he had met his match.

Being a smart guy he made up with Alex and they subsequently became good friends.Bad crops were never be on their agendas.Soon they began going out in the evening to enjoy themselves at singing cafes etc..He being good looking attracted many lovely female singers to their tables which ended in dates.Well they had a lovely time together at the envy of the accountant who had just joined the Mill.

There was nothing he could do because this Engineer was in the good books of the Bosses so no amount of complaints could have gone through.However all good times will soon came to an end as the Engineer resigned to venture into his own business.He opened a small factory to recycle dirty black oil for re-using in Malacca.

In place of him came another Engineer called Albert Teh,a short jovial guy.He too initially was tough with the plantation's crop but soon Alex overcame him and being a friendly and jovial guy they easily match up and became pals much to the displeasure of the accountant Loo.The two friends simply ignored him flatly which further aroused his anger with them.
Lean and hungry look, small guy with the Cassius appearance were always like a crook.Forever thinking how to attack them.

This accountant Loo always took advantage of his old acquaintances as the Boss most trusted employee and to gain better status with the Boss he carried all sort of rubbish to him.He really made full used of it,but the Boss normally just listened but did never take any actions against Alex or the Engineers.Thus leaving him in a lurch.

One day while he was drunk he told Alex how and why the Boss trusted him.Well it should be a long story and Alex noted them down with care.While in his earlier employment with the Company,as a stranger in Kuantan he had no where to go especially after dinner,so he would returned to the office just to idle his time away.Somehow he also knew the normal behavior of the Boss.It was routine that after dinner at about 8.00 p.m. the Boss will definitely take a slow drive round town and he will surely also passed by the office.

One day as he was went round he saw lights coming from the office and went up to investigate.Loo was smart and as he knew that the Boss will surely go up and investigate,spread out all the account books opened right in front of him as he smoked and idling away his time with legs on the table.On hearing the Boss he pretended to be concentrating on some unfinished work.This made the Boss very happy.On one occasion he apparently showed an account book with cartoon drawings on front cover accusing that fancy cartoons dirtying those covers were done by the "Dato"'s son.This enhanced his position further with the Boss.Actually he was never working late as he had no where to go,that time no TV mah,thus he gained recognition like that,what a bloody crook?

Back stabbing was his trade mark apparently he does that everywhere he was employed.To Alex he was too experienced to be cornered by such an idiot.Earlier in life he could have fallen to those cheap low down tricks but now he was too experienced for that.

Albert soon got another better position else where and left for it to become Manager of a Mill at the southern tip of the peninsular, a small "cowboy" town named Penerangan.With the sale of that plantation he was transferred to Sabah.

Taking over from him was staff from some jungle,a guy named Manian.He was never an Engineer but claimed to be.Anyway Alex knew his background,he was a general staff in one nearby Oil Mill.Some how he managed to con the Boss into giving him the job.Now this pseudo Engineer was no match to the accountant and definitely bullied by him all round.Poor fellow was easily dislodged by Loo and got the boot.

With no one brave sufficiently to take over from here Loo promoted his faithful junior staff to fill the pseudo Engineer 's place.Well he was good enough to secure the Boss blessing.Together they tried to blast Alex.They got the wrong target because by then Alex was already established firmly as the Boss number one.

Petty issues like under-ripe crop and insufficient loose fruits etc.,stc. were easily brushed off making them blushed with fear.With them ever trying to put Alex down but failed miserably.Now Alex had just to wait for the correct opportunity to strike back,whatever it was it should be fatal with one good shot should finished him off on target.

Well,it was simple as ABC because Loo was a drunkard and on the other hand the Boss absolutely dislike drunkards,who ever he may be if caught he will be crucified on the spot.Loo had managed to keep that under control.As Alex pretend to be slightly scared of him he began finally to make silly mistakes letting down his guards.Alex had misled him into believing that he feared him and respected him,let off his guards.

One fine evening he went on a drinking spree with his stuffs and Contractor.It was an exceptionally happy night he drank until dead drank.Well,"cowboy" town 's shop closed usually early about 10.00 p.m. so they will send off from the restaurant.With no where to continue their sessions they left for home.

Finding the gates close Loo showed his displeasure by shouting abuses at Alex.All sort of filthy and vulgar languages were used.As the gate was quit near to Alex's bungalow ,he thus heard every word of it.In further rage Loo climbed over the gate and ran ziz zaz to the gate of Alex's bungalow.Grabbing the gate with both hands he shook it vigorously and shouting further abuses like a mad fool.Alex just looked from his bedroom windows ignoring his ferocious shameful gestures.

His abuses woke up the gate keeper and many workers who finally opened the gate for them to pass through.The night passed with no other events.Next morning Loo pretended as if nothing had happened and behaved as normal.To Alex this was a golden opportunity to skin the toothless tiger.

One week passed the Boss came to the plantation and Alex saw him but pretended as though he had something but reluctant to speak out.Later part of the day the Boss again saw Alex being very well versed with Alex character he knew he had something in mind to tell but slightly holding back.

Alex finally told him the whole story about Loo drunk behavior and the commotions he created in front of the whole labor force who were wakened by his shouts.The Boss kept quiet as he listened to what Alex had said.On finishing the Boss told Alex to relaxed and keep quiet as he will deal with Loo his own way.

What he did surprised everyone because the Boss refused flatly to meet Loo despite the fact that he had much to report to the Boss.For nearly a month the Boss refused to see him.Poor Loo did not understand why nor know why or what really hit him?Finally his pseudo Engineer saw the Boss and the Boss gave him a message to deliver to Loo.The message was simple and that was to inform Loo to pack up and leave the Mill with immediate effect.So ended the services of the so-called accountant without any notice.

David had to use a sling to bring down the giant,Goliath but Alex had only to blow him away,a single puff thus -----far,far and away poor creature Loo went into orbit.Poor Loo he did not what destroyed him.Yes,while in orbit he still remembered his Boss and called him whenever he was drunk and yapping sheer nonsense which the Boss just replied,"yes.yes and by-bye".

To be frank there is a moral to this story,it proved that sheer motivated determination to perform honestly and work hard with brain still command the day.Not as others claimed that how to sweet talk buttering the superior and what they called smart working could climbed the Corporate ladder faster.But I say should that be the case the fall is greater and disastrous.For there were many eyes watching you in that world,what ever it was no Boss like people who can sweet talk only and cannot perform.Walk the talk so to say not talk the walk.His earlier humiliation in other companies were telling as he put his vast experience into practice which saved his days.

Therefore should you worked diligently with honesty well focused that would be recorded in the eyes of the Bosses.Promotion maybe nil or slow but be patient and be perseverance.That should saved you the day when the time comes and definitely will not by pass you.I should know because I performed thus,and the subsequent result excellent.